Western Australia implements shark ‘bait and kill’ zones

SYDNEY: Sharks swimming too close to popular beaches in Western Australia will be hunted and killed by professional fishermen, under a controversial new programme launched Tuesday. State Premier Colin Barnett said the new shark mitigation plan, which follows a fatal attack off the west coast last month, is aimed at reducing the risks to water users.

Under the strategy, baited drum lines designed to capture sharks will be set one kilometre (0.62 miles) offshore at busy beaches from January-April 2014. Any shark longer than three metres (10 feet) snagged by the lines or found in the surrounding area would be fair game for commercial fishermen to hunt and kill.–AFP